That may be true of the upper river but the lower river is in worse shape than it was 5 years ago, like down around valley forge. We used to catch a pretty good number of smallies there but its been crap for the last few years.

I think the lack of smallies is probably more attributable to some silly anglers who continue to help an invasive species (flatheads) take as strong a hold as possible until there is nothing else left

Its also curious that right around the time the smallies seemed to really go away was when they discovered the radioactive isotope in the water

I don't like the idea the PFBC thinks it has to help populations along that have been there for millenia. The brookies will recoever without help. They will disappear if the rainbows take hold, that's the history that cannot be ignored. There is nothing blocking movement of the rainbows in that stretch over the river, so in time the brookies WILL be driven out.Kudos for all the work that's got it this far.

See past discussions about Pa's cold winter water temps in freestoners and the reason why fall spawning PFBC RT do not spawn very successfully in those waters. If RT were a problem in Pa as suggested, then there would be multi-year class wild RT populations in freestoners all over the state. As it is, they spawn, a few hatch on occasion, survive their first summer, but rarely survive their first winter.

Mike's OP gives us hope that even a stream or river ravaged by mines and sewers for close to a century can come back and once again be a native wild trout stream. Having seen the River in that area, a minor miracle! Thanks for reporting, Mike.

What is reamrkable to me is that the brookies survived 100 years of degradation and are still there, that doesn't mean I think we should continue the onslought through another century by stocking and encouraging brown trout to populate the stream. Clearly though I'm in the minority here, so I'll let it go at that.

Posted on: 2013/9/23 16:37

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I could honestly care less if the flatties ate all the small mouth. IMO they put up a way better fight. I am hoping to see 100 pounders pulled out in the next 10 years. sorry to say it but they are here to stay. there is no way to get rid of them. my buddies and I have had 15 to 20 fish nights. the biggest I have pulled was a 42 pounder. from what I remember is pretty much the same as its always has been in the river. I think the real fish you have to look out for is the snakeheads. they are in the lower river and I have seen them destroying fish this past summer. I thought it was cool but they don't really take lures. snagging them is the way to go. they are apparently he to stay as well. so get ready to have your river taken over by invasive species. I honestly think we are ok. they are not wrecking havoc like everyone said. everything has a way of working out. JMHO

"What is reamrkable to me is that the brookies survived 100 years of degradation and are still there, that doesn't mean I think we should continue the onslought through another century by stocking and encouraging brown trout to populate the stream."

"There is nothing blocking movement of the rainbows in that stretch over the river, so in time the brookies WILL be driven out."

Fish the Upper Schuylkill, or look on Google earth: Mines and water treatment inputs... maybe they are the problem, not stocked trout?. I've never seen a brown or rainbow there, stockie or wild. Browns and rainbows are less tolerant of acidity than brookies, and brookies can barely handle the Upper Schuylkill. You may not see BT or RT on the Upper Schuylkill, but there are treatment systems for AMD and sewage. Thanks to Mike for the info on the ST!...

see below: rainbow trout "are very sensitive to water pH levels and do not do well in acidic conditions."

Edited by k-bob on 2013/9/26 8:26:18Edited by k-bob on 2013/9/26 8:29:43Edited by k-bob on 2013/9/26 8:30:17Edited by k-bob on 2013/9/26 8:34:37Edited by k-bob on 2013/9/26 8:36:18Edited by k-bob on 2013/9/26 8:37:12Edited by k-bob on 2013/9/26 9:03:28Edited by k-bob on 2013/9/26 9:04:24Edited by k-bob on 2013/9/26 9:05:33Edited by k-bob on 2013/9/26 9:08:17

K-bob,I live less than 2 miles from those projects. Add in the sewer projects that have happened in the last 10 years and we may see some significant improvement on the River. The brookies I've seen are above those projects.John

Posted on: 2013/9/26 12:51

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hadn't noticed this in that newspaper article : "Construction at the Bell Colliery plant started in July and was completed by RCHS Services, Troy. The $300,000 project was funded through a Clean Water Act grant administered through the state Department of Environmental Protection."